Seafood Eggplant Caserole

 

 

 

Ingredients:

 

1 Large Eggplant, peeled and chopped

2 T. of Salt

4 Slices of bacon, chopped, and cooked medium

4 T of butter, divided

2 stalks of celery

1 medium onion

1 bell pepper

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 green onion

1 lb. shrimp, cleaned

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/2 tsp. basil

1/2 tsp. sage

1/2 tsp. rosemary crushed

1 tsp. Cajun Seasoning

6-7 slices of bread

1 large egg, beaten

1 lb crab meat

1 C. shredded parmesean cheese

2 C. Italian Bread Crumbs

 

Instructions:

 

Peel the eggplant and cut into chunks.  Add salt to large pot halfway filled with water, stir add eggplant and let soak in the water for 30 minutes, drain and set aside.  Spray a 9x13 baking dish, set aside.  Cook bacon until cooked, but not crispy, reserving the bacon drippings.  Drain bacon on towel and set bacon aside.

 

Place eggplant back into the pot, and add enough fresh water only to cover eggplant; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and low simmer for about 15 minutes.  Use a slotted spoon to remove eggplant to a colander to drain, but reserve the water, setting it aside to cool.  To the bacon drippings; add 2 table spoons of butter.  Sauté' the celery, onion, and bell pepper until tender.  Add the garlic and green onion and cook another 5 minutes. 

 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Meanwhile, dip the bread into the cooled eggplant water so that it soaks in the water; place it into a colander to drain.  Chop the shrimp; add to vegetables and cook for about 2 minutes.  Add the salt, pepper, basil, sage, rosemary, and Cajun seasoning.  Stir together, remove from heat.

 

Use a paper towel to press down on the bread and squeeze out most of the excess water.  Squeeze the bread in your hands to remove the rest of the water, then add to the skillet, stirring it in well.  Add drained eggplant as well.  Add in 1 C of Bread crumbs.  Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. 

 

Add the beaten egg, and half of your parmesan cheese.  Stir well.  Add the crabmeat and gently toss.  Melt the other 2 T of butter.  Turn the contents of the skillet out into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the top lightly with the remaining parmesan cheese, then remaining bread crumbs, and drizzle the 2 T of butter on top of that.

 

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45minutes - 1 hour.